Things You Can Safely Do in Wrocław During the Coronavirus Crisis
Curated by
Pierre Duyker
in 12 minutes
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been officially declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation, the global economy is sinking, travel has been restricted and millions of people are experiencing unprecedented lockdowns as a result of COVID-19.
This is serious, folks
.
Fortunately, even the gnomes are taking hygeine very seriously too...
In Poland, as elsewhere, the number of Coronavirus cases is increasing daily and the government has imposed profound restrictions on public life that are being felt by everyone. On March 13 Polish authorities declared a '
State of Epidemic Threat
' which
denies foreigners entry into the country
beginning at midnight on March 14/15.
International flights and trains have been suspended, gatherings of over 50 people (including churches) have been banned, schools have been closed, and all restaurants and bars are now closed until at least the end of March
. Previously, on March 11th, the Polish Prime Minister announced the
closure of all cultural venues and institutions, including museums, theatres and cinemas, across all of Poland
. With that announcement, Kraków's tourism industry, services and attractions essentially shut down for the foreseeable future. That includes
all Wrocław museums
I'm in Wrocław during the Coronavirus Crisis. What Can I Still Do?
We acknowledge that Spring is officially here and we're all a bit peeved to be in doors all the time! But we need to stress this: Please take the situation seriously and do everything possible to protect yourself from the virus and prevent its spread to others. The best advice, and we are not kidding, is to isolate yourself by staying at home or in your hotel.
Isolation is the only vaccine at the moment.
COMMOM SENSE TIPS FOR AVOIDING CORONAVIRUS:
[Please follow these rules when following any of our other advice.]
If you feel sick, call for advice.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 30 seconds.
• Avoid crowds and keep a safe distance from other people.
• Avoid touching doorhandles, handrails, etc.
• Avoid cash, use your bank card.
• Keep your face covered or avoid touching it.
With that said - and we are continuing here in the hope that readers will truly think carefully about the activities they engage in during this time - though most attractions have been closed,
for tourists unfortunate enough to have travelled to Kraków at this inopportune time there are still some traditional sightseeing options that can be booked, including walking tours, bike tours and more. Visit our partner
Get Your Guide
and enter the date to see which offers are still available in Kraków. Get Your Guide has been updating their offers daily as availability changes and will fully refund your money if something is cancelled.
From our perspective, however, it's a better strategy to organise your own time, and while many sights are shuttered or off-limits, you can still check out some of
Kraków's less visited places and open spaces
. For stir-crazy locals and bored/disappointed visitors, below are our suggestions of
interesting and safe places to explore in Kraków
on your own during the Coronavirus crisis.
Top Things You Can Still Do in Wrocław During the Coronavirus Pandemic
There's been a sudden trend of public institutions rushing to have their buildings and collections available in a virtual realm. Listed amongst 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites with such a portal is
Wrocław's Centennial Hall
, a marvel of reinforced concrete architecture built in 1911. The building became one of Poland's official national Historic Monuments, as designated in 2005, together with the Four Domes Pavilion, the Pergola, and the Iglica. Its listing is maintained by the National Heritage Board of Poland. It was also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.
Visit the virtual space here.
With the lack of tourist guides operating at the current time, you can guide yourself using the latest copy of
Wrocław In Your Pocket
. If you can't get it from your hotel reception desk or a tourist information point,
download it here
, or
check it out on Issuu
here and below. Otherwise, view it right here in your browser!
If you are in Wrocław Old town, you may as well swing by Ostrów Tumski, the archaically-picturesque gem at the centre of Wrocław’s crown. This, after all, is where the city began in the latter part of the 9th century. The district’s history has always been closely tied to Catholicism and today you’ll find an incredible concentration of religious buildings across the river, making it an incredibly peaceful place to explore and relax.
Most Tumski (ENG: Tumski Bridge) leading off Wyspa Piasek and into Ostrów Tumski, the oldest part of Wrocław.
A visit to this lovely, peaceful part of Wrocław rightly begins at Most Piaskowy (ENG: Sand Bridge). This is the oldest bridge in Wrocław, built in 1861 and an engineering marvel, if no great shakes on the design front. The original bridge, built back in the 11th century, was part of the ancient trade route - the Amber Road, which led from the Baltic Sea to Vienna, and thence to Venice.
As you cross over onto Wyspa Piasek (ENG: Sand Island) and along ul. Jadwigi you will pass the Russian Orthodox Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the Baroque-era University Library, and the Gothic Church of the Blessed Virgin on the Sand, famous for its 16th-century icon of the Virgin Mary in the northern nave. From here the beloved, iron, 1890-built Most Tumski (Tumski Bridge) leads you across to the oldest part of the city; look out for the statues of St. Jadwiga (Hedwig), Silesia's patron saint, and John the Baptist, Wrocław's patron, at the head of the bridge. Also of note are the padlocks placed on the bridge by newlyweds to symbolise the unbreakable bond they share going forward in life together.
Following ul. Katedralna from there you’ll first come across the Church of Saints Peter & Paul before reaching the impressive monument of John of Nepomuk standing beneath the
Church of the Holy Cross
, a rare two-level church with two separate parishes. Continuing down picturesque ul. Katedralna you'll pass two of the neighbourhood's only places to rest and refuel -
Cafeterie Chic
at Katedralna 6 and
Lwia Brama
at Katedralna 9 - before standing beneath the beautiful
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist,
famous for its stunning stained glass windows and 16th century altarpiece. To the right of the Cathedral’s main portal is the Archbishop’s Palace, now the
Archdiocese Museum
(the Archbishop lives elsewhere these days). For those looking for a sanctuary that’s not full of cadavers on crosses, head north to the city’s
Botanical Gardens
– one of the finest, most picturesque, and sadly overlooked, places for spending time in Wrocław.
Wrocław has a thing with gnomes
, which is probably best covered by the link below. There are gnomes
aaaall
over the city, and you can have a load of fun trying to spot them all. How many you ask? They lost count at 350...so there's probably more than that to say the least. This is also a great way of getting to know the area. While you should avoid other humans, considering the current state of affairs, gnomes are naturally-immune to Coronavirus (Don't ask us why they're wearing masks in that first photo!). In saying that though,
wash your hands if you're gonna touch them!
They're not hugely talkative, but each has its own unique character and you're bound to find one that suits you.
If you're looking for peace of mind, skip steps 1 to 3 and go straight here, because you will not be disappointed. About 3.5km from the
old centre
, a mere 45 minutes of your time,
Szczytnicki Park
